We're still focused primarily on defensive players or TE/WR in the draft yet we acknowledge that had the Pats run more than 40% (138:55) of the time against the Giants we may have had better offensive numbers and won a SB. Yet we still neglect needs at CENTER (thinking of a DOMINANT center, ala Konz) at the top of the draft.

The presence of Konz would simply allow us to use the running game more often (to set up the passing game and reduce pressure on TB) because his presence would make the running game more PRODUCTIVE!

Because we don't have a more dominant running game we're FORCED to use the pass. It's an easy oversimplification to attribute a quasi-productive running game to a lack of quality RBs but make the holes big enough and it's amazing how improved our RBs will become.

Mankins has been heavily criticized for his poor play in the SB. Was he out-classed by superior talent or was he too focused on helping our "substitute" center prevent collapse of the interior of our O line?

When #27 comes up we should look at the BPA that will most help the Pats run at another SB! While I know that we desperately need a pass rush and improvements in the secondary and receiver corps (Branch/Ocho), the highest priority still remains selecting the players that will have the greatest impact on the Pats future success.

IMO the loss of a HEALTHY Gronk cost us this last SB! Defenses will be geared to try to neutralize Gronk next season and we must be ready to have other options on O and D to meet that challenge.

running game and throwing outside the hash marks. teams will be keying on the middle of the field like you said. Some teams had already done that. Not many throws outside the hash and ocho was good at it. Seems to me, they didnt want to do it cuz Gronk was always open. Brady got spoiled and had to improvise in the last game of the season. Not ideal. Need to establish a new look offense week 1 of next year. Get back to mixing up the playcalling and get # 12 under center.

Free agent WR

Rookie Center

Free Agent RB

Rookie D Lineman

Free Agent Safety..

Just going in that direction...

Vareen and Ridley are nice compliments but neither is the Stud Feature back we need.

I know you're not saying they should get rid of them but I also don't think its realistic to expect anyone in the NFL to get 25 carries a game in the Patriots offense. Lawfirm had 20+ carries 5 times in the last two seasons.

Cmon Capn. The fact is when we had a stud like Dillon, they gave him the rock.

They dont think highly enough of Benny to feature him and the minute they get a chance, they bench him for Woody.

What a glowing endorsement, and how about that long term contract he signed...oh wait...

Benny is a good back, he never fumbles, but in comparison to other backs in the league, he isnt even the best undrafted back. Thats Arian Foster.

Teams arent worried about Benny and thats my point. Neither will they shed a tear if Vareen or Ridley or back there. You need a STUD. They are good players.Thats all. Its just my opinion and I think when Brady tell Willie Mac that they have evolved into a passing offense due to the strenghts of their skill players that sais it all to me. They dont think any of them are skilled enough to take away too many snaps from Brady and the passing game.

B.B. has shown us that....Its not a coincidence our last Sb was in 04 with Dillon.

We have scored much more points, Wes has broken records, Tom threw for 5 grand and still no Championships since Weiss, Crennel and Dillon.

We need a Stud Back, and a "D" coordinator who has the balls to call agressive plays without looking over his shoulder...

Obviously they can win while giving him the ball few times as they did this year - Tom Brady will do that for you - but in every single loss we see the same thing. They rarely ever lose while committing to a run game early. BJGE is more than capable of handling the load, they don't need an Arian Foster.

i am giving you the reason why he doesnt get a lot of carries in big games.

B.B. owes a lot of his success to Brady and he caters to him, thats no mystery.

He isnt going to defer to Benny. I keep saying it. I love the guy, but if he was so great, why not lock him up? He got to be cheap right?

I am not saying its right, I am saying its the coaches decision so why Bytch about it all year when you know what it is?

I am not the answer, i am the messenger. I am telling you why they dont use him, I am not agreeing with it. I am taking my position as a fan who wont effect the playcalling and I dont spend time thinking about things I can control.

I dont like a lot of things B.B. does, but I take the good with the bad realizing what hes done here and thats it.

B.B. wants to throw. Can we agree with that and leave it alone. If he wanted to use the backs we have more, im sure he can put the word out...I mean he is the Head Coach, no?

I dont like a lot of things B.B. does, but I take the good with the bad realizing what hes done here and thats it. B.B. wants to throw. Can we agree with that and leave it alone. If he wanted to use the backs we have more, im sure he can put the word out...I mean he is the Head Coach, no?Posted by JayShizzle45

Apparently not because everyone wants to blame O'Brien or Brady for the playcalling. Maybe for an individual game you can make that argument, but not for 6 fuck1ng years. The issue then becomes why. Here are the options:

A) BB is a total pu$sy and is TB's b1tch

B) BB thinks the new rules favoring offense are conducive to a throwing based offense.

C) BB thinks given the personnel on the team that we are not a smash mouth team.

The problem is that according to a lot of posters on this board options B and C would make BB an idiot fantasy obssessed toolbag because it is obvious to anyone with a brain that running more would guarantee a win just from looking at box scores. However since BB is the "greatest coach of all time" they can't have that and have to subtly imply option A without making BB look too bad.

Personally I think it's mostly a combination of B and C and I think that the drafting of Ridley and Vareen might indicate a shift in the offensive identity over time as they develop.

I think the biggest key is not so much that they need to run the ball 30 times a game, but rather they need the running game to be a threat of a huge play at all times. Most teams aren't going to care about giving up 5 yards gains all day if it prevents a big play. Now say we have a back out there that is threat to take it to the house any time he gets space...they have to respect it. Maybe Ridley or Vereen can be that guy, only time will tell.

So..are some saying the Pats would be better off running a NYG style pro style. I formation attack ? Scheme is the problem ?? That would possiblydiminish the no huddle expertise and oodles of points they scored early in the season to gain a strong start out of the gate ..or should the Pats just run more out of their shotgun spread offense. IE BJE averaged 4.4 YPC in the Super Bowl (highest among any RB in the game from either team. Woodhead almost gets as many carries but is much less effective (2.6 a carry). Maybe no Woodhead ? They were running the ball pretty well in the third quarter when the game was tight..but Bradys INT on first down just killed them. They were almost at midfield..with the lead..you've got to protect the football in that situation. Gronk was not wide open at all..Don't throw it up for grabs on first down.Then..later when BJE touched it again later..he got negative yards in a big play by NYG D..and it was pass time from there.

Tom Brady will be playing football at 35 next year. If our plan is to have him throw the ball near another career high in atts we probably won't have to worry about what happens in the SB, as we won't be in it.

The Tuck sack hurt Bradys previously torn left shoulder(the results of another pass heavy attack) This had an effect on Bradys accuracy and we STILL didn't go to a run game.

Next year we need to go back to more ground and pound, field position and help keep Brady upright.

I know it is difficult to realize but Brady is not invincible and we are hanging him out to dry.

We are a one dimensional offense that is over reliant on one player. It is tough to win like that....as the Giants have repeatedly shown us.

To get back to the original premise, Konz is a huge "road-grader" who can be expected to push the pocket forward or crush a defensive lineman to open holes. He can continue through his man to the second level (to take out a LB for more RB daylight). With the ability to routinely push defenses back even average running backs could improve their yards/carry. With a healthy Vollmer we have an outstanding line that can only be better with a dominant center to kick-start the offense.

When they have the ball our most effective response is to collapse the pocket and force the Q to run for his life. Since the Q is under duress and stress he has less time to look for open receivers. This favors our secondary since receivers have less time to find open seams.

1) When we're defending:Collapse the pocket and an opponents running backs are forced laterally to look for running room. Forward progress is delayed giving LBs and DEs an opportunity to contain. Without a strong center they're vulnerable.

2) When we're on offense: The Pats with a space-eating, strong and mobile center an opponent won't be able to easily collapse the pocket giving TB time to find his receivers. (TB is most effective when he has time to search for open receivers). Our running backs will have running room inside too.

A strong running game forces defenses to respect our offense and greatly reduces their desire to be overly aggressive rushing TB. Blitzing the passer makes them especially vulnerable as long as we have BOTH an inside and outside receiver threat to complement a strong running game.